MotoRacer 3

Graphics & Sound:

Offering multiple resolutions to tailor to your systems' needs, the scenes in MotoRacer 3 are stunning. Each map renders visually stunning scenery in the foreground and background. This detail even goes as far as floating balloons in the outside races and realistic arena setting and lighting. Replays after each race cover multiple angles as you watch yourself zoom across the screen in lightning flashed reality. Even a bit of fun comes with wandering close to the audience. Surprisingly, they all have separately drawn bitmap bodies and faces. Granted, the audience does not interact with the game, but the two dimensional bodies were fun to see.

The racer and vehicle graphics, much like the background graphics, are rendered to near perfect proportions. Shadows, reflections, defined curves, and unreal textures support the visualization of a true feel to the bikes and their drivers.

The sound, however, becomes annoying over time. The noise of a souped-up motorcycle engine more than often covered any music or other sound effects. Eventually, the only thing I enjoyed hearing was the countdown before the beginning of the race. Afterwards, I turned my volume off.

Gameplay:

With six different styles of gameplay, MotoRacer 3 is probably the most definitive version of Motocross to date. You start out with one track for each mode. As you start placing in races or earning high marks, you collect points which allow you unlock tracks that are more difficult by ''purchasing'' them from the shop. Street mode is just the basic ''race against the best.'' Personally, this one is not too special, and the challenge gets tiring. However, you do get to race in the top Motorbike tracks in the world. Motocross and Supercross builds on the race concept, but it adds the extra rush of dirt and an unleveled plain. Trial involves obstacle courses that you must complete in specific amounts of time. Each Trial track has five sub-courses that work on a different aspect of your bikes precision and carefulness. The Freestyle mode is obviously MotoRacer's answer to stunt gaming. Utilizing various keystrokes, you control your biker as he attempts and performs jump stunts that if attempted in real life would probably cause a man severe back pain for years. The last mode, and my personal favorite, is Traffic. This mode pits you against one other biker as you weave through the streets of Paris dodging buses, cars, and roadwork. It is definitely an adrenaline rush waiting to happen.

You also have the option to customize your vehicle in most modes. You can change the tire size, shock capacity, transmission, and power until you have a vehicle completely your own.

Modes also come ready in Friendly and Practice modes, which when played, do not add to your shopping points. A multiplayer-online option is also available.

In almost all the tracks and modes, I found the believability of a real motorbike race truly stunning throughout. This game does not feel like a miniaturized car racer. It is motorbike to its fullest.

Difficulty:

Each mode also has its own style difficulty. Most of the main difficulty is in the method of ''stairing'' up to the top of the game. Unlike most racers, MotoRacer 3 will not allow you to play the most difficult tracks first. For more experienced racers, this feature makes the game a little childish at first, but after unlocking other tracks, difficulty increases. In addition, within each set of tracks, racers are allowed to toggle the difficulty of each set. This may lower the time limit or might increase opponent speed and intelligence. Also, steering the bikes take some getting used to. There is more weight put into your balance than on a car racer, so braking might be hard at turns, especially at higher speeds.

Game Mechanics:

Easy to work commands make for an excellent package here. Primarily using the keyboard, I rarely had to move my fingers from place to place to toggle between gears or prime my shocks. The keys are in close proximity and take no time in getting used to. Commands for the Freestyle mode could seem tricky at first. However, the commands are obvious and after thirty minutes of practice, keystrokes begin to come naturally.